CELTIC have welcomed back Darren O’Dea to the club after a seven year absence and the former defender will now take up a role in the academy as under 18s manager.

We reported Darren was close to signing on with the club last month but it has officially been announced today by Celtic.

Since leaving Celtic Darren has had spells in Canada, Ukraine and even India as well as down south before ending up at Dundee for his final season as a top flight defender.

The former Celtic youth product will know better than most what the young hopeful Celtic players are going through as they try to navigate their way to the first team.

Bringing Darren in supplements the signing of Stephen McManus who is another youth product who is now charged with bringing young hoops through the ranks.

O’Dea left the club in 2012 under Neil Lennon and it’s fitting he now returns with the Irishman back at the helm.